The European Union has pledged an additional 68 million euros (equivalent to 73 million US dollars) to provide urgently needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement released today, Friday, the European Union said, “In light of the ongoing deterioration of the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the steady increase in needs, the European Commission is stepping up its funding to support Palestinians affected by the ongoing war.”
The statement added that this support brings the total EU humanitarian aid for needy Palestinians in Gaza and across the region to 193 million euros for the current year, as reported by the France 24 news network.
The European Union clarified that the new aid would focus on providing food, clean water, sanitation, and shelters, and will be directed through local partners.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has significantly deteriorated since the conflict escalation on October 7, 2023. The region has faced severe challenges in healthcare, with hospitals reported to be overflowing and facing shortages of essential supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) noted direct damage to 24 health facilities, including six hospitals, exacerbating the already strained health sector. Moreover, issues with food security have worsened, with nearly half a million people unable to access food rations due to closures of distribution centers, and critical shortages of basic foodstuffs are reported across the area.
In response to the escalating crisis, the European Union has been actively increasing its humanitarian aid efforts. The EU committed an additional €25 million in humanitarian aid as of November 2023, bringing the total aid for that year to over €100 million. This assistance is aimed at addressing needs such as water, sanitation, health, food, and other essentials. The EU has also launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation to facilitate the delivery of lifesaving supplies, with several flights carrying humanitarian cargo to Gaza.
